Pyongyang, – North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called the North’s launch of a ballistic missile from a submarine “the greatest success,” saying his country has full capability to carry out nuclear attacks, Pyongyang’s state media said Thursday.

The North’s leader observed the launch of the submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) Wednesday, saying it was “the greatest success and victory,” according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Kim said the results of the test-fire showed North Korea “joined the front rank of the military powers fully equipped with nuclear attack capability,” the KCNA reported.

The South Korean military said the missile flew about 500 kilometers toward Japan, making the longest flight by such a missile launched by the North.

A military source said the missile, launched at a higher angle, could have flown more than 1,000 km if it was fired off at a regular angle, and is seen as technical advances in the North’s missile program.